Providence has a wild, rough, incalculable road to its end; and it is no use to try to whitewash its huge, mixed instrumentalities, to dress up that terrific benefactor in a clean shirt and white neckcloth of a student in divinity. Emerson.

Providence has decreed that those common acquisitionsmoney, gems, plate, noble mansions, and dominionshould be sometimes bestowed on the indolent and unworthy; but those things which constitute our true riches, and which are properly our own, must be procured by our own labour. Erasmus.

Prudence and greatness are ever persuading us to contrary pursuits. The one instructs us to be content with our station, and to find happiness in bounding every wish: the other impels us to superiority, and calls nothing happiness but rapture. Goldsmith.

Prudens futuri temporis exitum / Caliginosa nocte premit Dens; / Ridetque, si mortalis ultra / Fas trepidatThe Deity in His wisdom veils in the darkness of night the events of the future; and smiles if a mortal is unduly solicitous about what he is not permitted to know. Horace.

Public affairs ought to progress quickly or slowly, but the people have always too much action or too little. Sometimes with their hundred thousand arms they will overthrow everything, and sometimes with their hundred thousand feet they will crawl along like insects. Montesquieu.

Pure truth, like pure gold, has been found unfit for circulation, because men have discovered that it is far more convenient to adulterate the truth than to refine themselves. They will not advance their minds to the standard, therefore they lower the standard to their minds. Colton.

Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature. Simplicity is in the intention, purity in the affection; simplicity turns to God; purity unites with and enjoys Him. Thomas à Kempis.

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men; for better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. Bible.

Quon me donne six lignes écrites de la main de plus honnête homme, jy trouverai de quoi le faire peudreGive me six lines written by the most honourable man alive, and I shall find matter therein to condemn him to the gallows. Richelieu.

Quam inique comparatum est, hi qui minus habent / Ut semper aliquid addant divitioribus!How unjust is the fate which ordains that those who have least should be always adding to the store of the more wealthy! Terence.

Quand le peuple est en mouvement, on ne comprend pas par où le calme peut en y rentrer; et quand il est paisible, on ne voit pas par où le calme peut en sortirWhen the people are in agitation, we do not understand now tranquility is to return; and when they are at peace, we do not see how tranquility can depart. La Bruyère.

Quand on a tout perdu, quand on na plus despoir, / La vie est une opprobre, et la mort un devoirWhen one has lost everything and has no more any hope, it is a disgrace to live and a duty to die. Voltaire.

Quand on est jeune, on se soigne pour plaire, et quand on est vieille, on se soigne pour ne pas déplaireWhen we are young we take pains to be agreeable, and when we are old we take pains not to be disagreeable.

Quand on voit le style naturel, on est tout étonné et ravi; car on sattendait de voir un auteur, et on trouve un hommeWhen we see a natural style, we are astonished and charmed; for we expected to see an author, and we find a man. Pascal.

Quand une lecture vous élève lesprit et quelle vous inspire des sentiments nobles et courageux, il est bon, et fait de main douvrierWhen a work has an elevating effect on the mind, and inspires you with noble and courageous thoughts, it is good and is from the hand of a master. La Bruyère.

Quelquéclatante que soit une action, elle ne doit passer pour grande lorsquelle nest pas leffet dun grand desseinAn action should not be regarded as great, however brilliant it may be, if it is not the offspring of a great design. La Rochefoucauld.

Qui a vu la cour, a vu du monde, ce quil y a de plus, beau, le plus spécieux, et le plus orné; qui méprise la cour après lavoir vu méprise le mondeHe who has seen the court has seen all this most beautiful, most specious, and best decorated in the world; and he who despises the court after having seen it despises the world. La Bruyère.

Qui craindra la mort nentreprendra rien sur moi: qui méprisera la vie sera toujours maître de la mienneHe who fears death will never take any advantage of me; but he who despises life will ever be master of mine. Henry IV. of France.

Qui est plus esclave quun courtisan assidu si ce nest un courtisan plus assidu?Who is more of a slave than an assiduous courtier, unless it be another courtier who is more assiduous still? La Bruyère.

Qui fit, Mæcenas, ut nemo, quam sibi sortem / Seu ratio dederit, seu fors objecerit, illa / Contentus vivat; laudet diversa sequentes?How happens it, Mæcenas, that no one lives content with the lot which either reason has chosen for him or chance thrown in his way; but that he praises the fortune of those who follow other pursuits? Horace.